New Delhi: The Opposition on February 26 dubbed the Railway Budget as "illusionary" and "insipid" and said it would hit the common man.

Reacting to the proposals in the Railway Budget for 2002-03, they said it would not benefit the farmers and the common man.

"It is a beaten track budget lacking vision and will not help in expanding the Railways," Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Shivraj Patil said.

"It is an illusion. Let us see the reality," Congress MP Renuka Chaudhury said adding it was to be seen if the rationalisation of freight would help farmers reach their produce to consumers.

Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) MP Nilotpal Basu described it as the "same hackneyed story" and said the increase in tariff will have an impact on the price of essential commodities.

His party colleague Rupchand Pal said though rail safety was a major concern, imposing surcharge on this would have a serious impact on the pocket of the common man.